Novak Djokovic opened his 2015 hardcourt summer swing with a tough 6-3, 7-6(4) win over Brazilian lefty Thomaz Bellucci in the second round at the Montreal Masters.

The Serb collected his 250th career Masters 1000 victory, but it wasn’t easy on a day that was delayed by early showers.

“I thought the conditions were, because of the rain, quite heavy and slow,” said Djokovic. “So I think it suited Bellucci very well. Nevertheless, credit to him for playing some really solid, resilient tennis, not giving up, getting a lot of balls back, serving well. Match could have gone either way, honestly, especially in the second set. But we both had our chances to break. We got to the tiebreak, which I thought was fair, then it was anybody’s game.

“I managed to stay cool and mentally tough in the right moment.”

Two-time champion Andy Murray was on in the evening but rain halted his match with Tommy Robredo at 4-4. They’ll resume this afternoon.

Also in the evening, Ivo Karlovic registered his 10,000th career ace in a 7-6(1), 7-6(1) mild upset win over Canadian favorite Milos Raonic.

“Yeah, it’s very disappointing,” said Raonic. “I wish I could have done better today, given myself an opportunity to do better in the next round, just give myself a chance to progress. You know, it is what it is. Take them as they come. Try to sort of carry it through. A poor week this week doesn’t mean it’s a poor week next week. So just try to turn that around.’

Grigor Dimitrov began the day with a nice win over Alexandr Dolgopolov. Defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga handled Borna Coric 6-4, 6-4 and Lukas Rosol scored the lone seed upset on the day knocking out No. 12 Kevin Anderson 7-6, 7-6.

Ernests Gulbis also beat his friend and practice partner Dominic Thiem in three sets. And Nick Kyrgios took down Fernando Verdasco in three.

“He can play his best tennis again. He lacks regularity and needs to improve some aspects of his game [such as] movement and foot speed but he’s able to do it,” said Nadal’s assistant coach Francisco Roig.

“He’s not worse these days due to a lack of strength, mobility or mental toughness. He can turn things around, be competitive and try to win Grand Slam trophies [which is] his ultimate goal.”

American big man John Isner meet Canadian No. 2 Vasek Pospisil. Kyrgios will test French Open champion Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori is first on Center against Pablo Andujar.

“He plays unbelievable tennis,” said Kyrgios of the Swiss. “He’s pretty much got big everything: big serve, forehand, backhand. He’s a great athlete as well. I’m just going to go out there and play my game and see how it goes.”

Let out a big snort of laughter at that, jalep you cheeky moo…;) comparing UK and US roads it would probably take you less time to pick up OK and take her to Cincy than it would for me to get ONTO a motorway, leave alone anything else!
In fact, I probably have to set out now……….

We would have a blast Okiegal! I have no doubt. Can’t do it this year but maybe 2016? Nothing like being there, right there watching Rafa on a practice court – I know CPR. Saved a man in a restaurant choking too.

Glad to make you laugh, Margot. Still laughing thinking of you starting out now to get to Glasgow by September and me leaving literally today to get to Oklahoma then to Cincy by Saturday to be there for practice courts and qualifying rounds.

I’ve said this before…..I think it would jolly if all the European TXers would come to the US for a tournament and we could have a “reunion”…..Who knows we might actually like each other!! Lol Now I can’t go there because I don’t fly or swim (if I went by boat). So me going over seas is OUT!! Lol
Y’all think about it!! :)

@OK
Would love to go to the USOpen and Indian Wells one of these days….
@jalep
Just turned my car onto B(road)6745321 and waiting for some cows to cross the road, dunno if I’m going to make it by September……

GG Hubby and I went to Colorado a few weeks ago. I’m so hot natured, I was looking forward to some cooler weather but it was hot there too! We drove through a high mountain area to a little town called Ouray, named after the Ouray Indian tribe, I might add. The area is called the Little Swiss Alps of the Rockies. It was beautiful. As we drove through this mountain range I thought continually of Federer!! Lol These little Colorado Alps would look like ant hills compared to the real ones. I can imagine how gorgeous Switzerland must be! Lucky old Roger….
We really don’t dig sand in our shoes and the thong would be OUT!! Tee hee hee….if you get my drift??

@Margot….I’m a big movie fan and after seeing movies that are filmed in Europe, you always see sheep, cows or goats crossing the roadways. Didn’t know if it was for real or movie props. The US does have open range but we’re pretty much fenced in here in Oklahoma. Some of our mountainous areas are not fenced. Hey, baby, don’t fence me in….I wanna go girl go!! Hope you get that USO worked in sometime! That would be fun, especially the night matches!

Jalep ive often wondered what it would be like if all us tennis-x posters were actually in the same room chatting,i build up an impression of what they look like in my mind,annd some would probably scare me if i met them face to face,Okies right pictures with monikors would be nice….

@GG The Chickasaws have a big cultural center about 33 miles from my house. I haven’t been to it yet but plan to. My daughter in law is Seminole Indian. I think most of the Indian reservations are mainly in New Mexico and Arizona. I did not realize how many different tribes there were until I started doing Native American research. My great grandmother was 1/2 Choctaw. Trying to find her roll number…wasn’t successful.

Well back to tennis, got to snatch the PC from Rowzer and get in the RAFA ZONE!! It is getting close to his match. VAMOS!!

Okie i will have to come and stay with you then lol,anyway enjoying the tennis Kei is my number 3 favorite and is playing very well so far,im wondering why we had the theme tune to The Good,The Bad,and The Ugly though?Mr Jackman reminds me of a young Clint Eastwood both very hot(AHEM)just thought id get that one in lol,i need a laugh as i think ive been stressing too much on that Rafa thread,enoughs enough….

@jalep
You never heard of a “Glasgow kiss” girl? Us “Murray girls” have to perfect it before we’re allowed into the very exclusive Andy fan zone.
@OK
Depends where you are, not many cows and sheep in the mean city streets. Tho some farmers in Leeds or somewhere did drive some cows into the local supermarket to protest about milk prices!

Jalep most of the ladies here are pretty approachable,and we just agree to disagree,CDP i get on OK with but he/she certainly doesnt take any prisoners,i find the Nole fan base the best to chat with miss Harry and Courbon,one poster that really terrifies me is Steve-O who was nice about me when i was nice about his favorite,but i once dared to disagree with him,and barely got out alive,probably about 6 foot 7 and built like a brick chicken house lol….

Meyer also had MP against Chardy and is losing third set. Hardy will face Karlovic for a place in quarters. With Raonic out if Wawa is rusty, it can be an opening for a surprise semi finalist in top half.

It’s the “watch out for deer” that makes the tractors behave (having already ruined the country roads by putting out – “This is a cattle crossing”! and you know they ain’t joking – just look at your car when you get home.

The Glasgow “kiss” may be deadly, but the Glasgow humour is deathly – you can die laughing – truly I’ve never laughed as much as when I worked in Glasgow (being a Lowlander).

There are wonderful laughs all over the world – in Tonopah Nevada there are Notices at pavement level outside the ONE shop, that say ” Sorry, No Dogs Allowed” – the dogs assemble peaceably at that point – staring at the Notice.
I’m rambling – well, who isn’t?

They said it is absorbing water due to excess of rain and sometimes it is creating bubbles in the surface. Hence they were drying all the time even when they start hitting. Conditions in center court is slower than Court 1.

This is good for Djoko cause he can face big serves depending nohow his draw play out. He already face Sock next, than most likely Berdych and either Wawa,Isner or Karlovic in semis before Murray/Kei/Nadal/Tsonga in finals.

Oh, and Sean jinxed both Gasquet and Cilic, he picked them both for semis;-)

Don’t understand why Murray doesn’t attack the net more. Sometime he hits a good approach, knows that there is a slice returning bit he just don’t come forward. Maybe he knows that his baseline game is enough against Robredo or is trying to gauge his game. But I think he shouldn’t stay back the whole match.

Thanks Jalep for the shout out to the Nadal Gals on his win. If that boy doesn’t start closing out those sets when he has the break I don’t know what I’ll do! He makes me a nervous wreck sometime, but he does well in the TBs. He is full of nerves during the tense moments of his games. Wazz up wid dat??
But I’m a happy camper, he got the “W”.

Andy fans, congrats to you all too! Novak winning,no surprise but he had a tough second set to deal with.
Church night…..gotta go and teach the babies!!

I am not Kyrgios fan but he had all the rights to be upset, first he was insulted by spectator (who had to be removed) and the was shafted by linesman about three times, including ones in the TB, what was he supposed to do, to say “thank you”?

Wawa felt something in his hip, Kyrgios win with Wawa withdrawing, next Isner. Big chance for either of them to play Karlovic or Chardy for a place in semis against Novak (can’t see him losing to the other guys in his side, no way). A lottos tiebreaks to be played by this guys still.

When Kyrgios is on he looks real good. I guess the microphones picked up an exchange he had with Stan during the match and social media is goin crazy about it. I’ll let you find out for yourselves what it is, but, wow. He is quite the character, I like his attitude, its something we haven’t seen for quite a while…..Kids these days.

Stan was pulling at his back during the match, so I do think his retirement was physical. However, I’m sure he was really glad he retired considering what was said.

I’ve been discussing Kyrgios’ on court antics for months, but this is a new low w/ a comment I’ve never seen from any player. Not only did he disrespect Stan, one of the nicest players on tour, but his comment was sexist and pathetic. Clearly has an inferiority complex when up against better players. Wonder if there will finally be any repercussions, but I doubt it.

It was disrespectful from Dona to enter relationship with the married man, wasn’t it? It looks that she is quick to jump from one man’s bed to another and she was only 18. Don’t blame messenger, besides, Stan was having a verbal go at Kyrgios at the beginning of the second set even Kyrgios was robbed in the first set, he should have guts to finish the match like a man.

Wogboy from what i can gather Stan and Donna stated their relationship, well after Stan and his wife had split up anyway,which means hes a free man,who can do whatever he likes im afraid,i didnt actually see the match so i cant comment on the rest,but i have to agree with Danica,Emily and KatH in that what Kyrigios said was in poor taste,not nice for kids to hear,he has the makings of been an amazing player,shame he lets his mouth take over his brain at times,he has alot of growing IMO….

GG,
Stan and Dona’s relationship the was worst kept secret in tennis circles, even me without social media access knew about it, of course it was announced after official split and it was far more disgusting having your wife in the players box while you are having an affair with another WTA player then what Nick the kid said, and I am surprised that female posters are jumping on what Nick the Kid said but at the same time condone what Stan and Dona did! By saying this I don’t condone what Nick said but Stan should have the balls to finish the match. Did he really beleived that nobody will come out with story about him and Dona, ATP and WTA are villages that everybody knows everything.

Wogboy you have a point,but is there any need to air all this dirty linen in public,as there are kids,balls kids and spectators close by it was a disgracefull comment IMO,however i certainly dont condone what Stan did especially if he was seeing another woman behind his wifes back,and as he was 4/0 down so indeed why not just go through the motions and finish the match?….

I think Nick should take up cricket, where “sledging” is part of the game.
“Sledging” being: insulting an opponent in order to gain a competitive advantage.
I think comments like this belong in the locker room TBH. And it sounds like a throw back from the stone age anyway.
How many people did Nick manage to dobb in it? I feel sorry for 4xK too, thought he was a mate of Nick’s?

@Wog Boy
Sorry to have to tell you…well I’m not actually ;)
But England hammered the Aussies in the last test and have won back the Ashes. Broard took 8 for 15 first morning at Trrent Bridge!
Wowzer!
I love cricket and rugby too, in fact most sports if they are played well. Not a fan of football tho., too many preening prima donas! Oh except Messi who is of course God!

Mat4 i assume your joking,as I hate the terms totally derogatory towards women,ive heard the terms used here in Britain banging,shagging,screwing,laying,giving her one etc,they seem to be intimating that a woman is loose,and fair game for any man,not nice….

Margot while not a fan of cricket or Rugby,its always fantastic to see the Brits doing well at sports,love football sorry but agree with the prima donnas bit,but loved to watch Theirry Henrys silky footballing skills when he played have to admit,much prefer the lower division football as thats what its about rather than the money and hype….

@Wog Boy
They were indeed…and then you left…;)
@GG
I agree with your above comment. But surely the term “banging” indicates a certain lack of finesse on the part of the male and certainly shows him up somewhat…..;)
Down which path I will travel no further….;)

Margot i bet your friend is happy then,Southend UTD snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to get promoted to division 1 through the play off,i have to admit i do love Liverpool FC like Wogboy,but i love the heart of the lower league teams,York City FC is my team,perpetually garbage for the most part unfortunatly though….